Process of and apparatus for treating molten metal.



S. S. DEEMER. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLTEN METAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14, 1908.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N m u n EN METAL.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2 EEMER.

OR. TREATING MOLT ED OCT. 14,1909.

S. S. D

APPARATUS APPLICATION r1 PROCESS OF AND Q/Vi Muses SELDENrSCRANTONDEEMEZR; OF NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE;

PROGESS'OF AND APPARATUS FOR- TREATING MOLTEN METAL.

Specification)! Letters Patent, Patented Mar 28,- 1911,-

lpplication filed October 14, 1908 Serial No. 457,720

To-all whom-it may concern:

Be. it knownthat- I, SELDEN SORANTON DnnMnn, a,citizen of the. UnitedStates,-re-

sidingat New Castle, in the county of Newcastle and State of Delaware,have" invented certain new and useful Improvements in.

Processes and A' paratusfortTreating Molten Metal, of which thefollowing is a specification My, invention relates to: treating moltenmetal, and particularly the-conversion of ironintosteel, and especiallyto that .type of.

process. and apparatus. in, which the conversion is .eifected by means.ofa surface blow. In this process as heretofore practiced, and suchapparatusdevised prior to my. invention, there has .been. considerableloss by inefiiciencydue to thesluggish move-.

ment of the fluid metal under the influence of the air currents,resulting in retardation of the process with consequent wasteinoxidizing metal and burningiout of the con- Verter lining. A furtherdifiioultyisfound in the introduction into the fluid metal at differentstages of the blow, of suitable reagents for desulfurizing,dephosphorizing,

decarburizing, and recarburizing the metal,

particularly where the body of moltenmetal treated is comparativelysmall, as in small and moderate sized converters.

The objects of my invention are to facilitate the movement of the moltenmetal by improving the form of the converter bottom or hearth, andprovide for a more effective delivery of the blast to the metal, therebysecuring a rapid and efficient conversion; to provide means forintroducing reagents at the proper stages in the blow in such manner asto secure their thorough and rapid incorporation in, and reaction with,the molten metal, and at the same time augment the blow and facilitatethe movement of the metal; to provide for the ready and efiicientcontrol of the introduction of such reagents; and to improve the airpressure connection with the converter.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred apparatusfor carrying my process into effect, but it will be understood thatvarious changes may be made in details of construction without departingfrom the invention.

In these drawings, Figure 1, is a central vertical section vthrough theconverter; Fig. 2, is view in side elevation, the bearing being shown insection; Fig. 3, is a horizontal and inner lining,

section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, 1s fragmentary view invertical section showingthe arrangementof the twyers; Fig. 5, is .asimilar view showing. a; slight modification of the same; and Fi 6, is afrag- Inentary View showing the c arging-box and airpressureiconnections infront elevation.v

Referring to the drawings, A is the bod of a converter having the usualouter she I and having a lengthmuch greater. than its. width; The bottomor hearth, a. is .made rounded in the direction of its width, andpreferably semi cylindrical, so as to friction as posslble to therevolving move? ment of the molten metal.

Above the bottom or rounded portion are located the twyers B forsupplying a blast of oxidizing agent to the molten metal, preferablyagainst and across the surface thereofso as to constitutea surfaceblow.These twyers extend substantially entirely alon oneside of the converterand are arranged to deliver the blast over the whole surface of thebodyof the metal in the direction of its width, This main blastmaybedelivered by a seriesnof individual twyers B, as shown in Fig.4,011 by a single long one in the form of a narrow slot, as shown at Bin Fig. 5, and is supplied with oxidizing agent under pressure such asair, from a wind box G which communicates by duct 0 with one of thehollow trunnions, D. The lower portion of trunnion D is provided withslotted openings d, to register with air connection d running up throughthe center of housing d and its bearing, this housing being connected atthe bottom with a wind box leading from the blowing engine, not shown.Slotted openings d preferably overlap opening d in the hearing, so thatpressure may still be supplied in full force when the converter istilted to the proper angle for the blow. The other trunnion D has no airpressure connection, but carries the worm wheel (not shown) andcooperates with suitable mechanism for tilting the converter.

In order to provide for the introduction of suitable reagents fordesulfurizing, dephosphorizing, decarburizing and recarburizing themetal efficiently at the proper stages in the blow, I'arrange a chargingbox E upon the front of the converter above the Wind box C, andconnected with the interior of the converter by charging twyers e abovemain twyers B. Charging box E present as littlev resistance or isprovided with a suitable cover e by which it may be hermetically closed,and is preferably divided into compartments for the reagents, as shownin Fig. 6, one for each charging twyer. Each compartment is suppliedwith pressure through a pipe 6", connected with the source, as at thewind box C, and controlled by a valve 6 The charging twyers .arepreferably arranged to deliver their blast, containing the pulverized orcomminuted reagents, to the surface of the molten metal at an oblique anle greater than, and to supplement that of, the main blast delivered bythe twyers B.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing. Molten lowgrade metal such as pig iron, being introduced into the converter to theproper depth, and pulverized reagents to be used in the process havingbeen placed in the compartments of the charging box E, the converter ispreferably tilted slightly. The air blast is turned on and is deliveredfrom the wind box through twyers B, acting on the molten metal andcausing it to circulate rapidly across the converter, down around thebottom and up again. This motion is greatly facilitated by the roundedor semi-cylindrithrough twyers 6 against the molten metal, this blastaiding the main blast besides thoroughly incorporating the reagcntswiththe metal. When the blow is completed the converter is tilted and itscontents discharged in the usual way.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. The process ofconverting molten metal,. which consists in supplying a main blastobliquely across the surface of the molten metal, and supplying anauxiliary blast containing comminuted reagents to the surface of saidmolten metal obliquely in the same general direction and at a greaterangle to the surface.

2. In a converter, twyers for supplying a blast to the surface of acharge of molten metal, a wind box with which said twyers communicate, areagent charging box, additional twyers fordelivering the contents ofsaid charging box to said metal, and controllable air pressureconnection from said wind box to said charging box.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

Witnesses:

J. ERNEST SMITH, EDWARD T. PRICE.

